Apparatus for dewatering fluids

ABSTRACT

An apparatus ( 10 ) for dewatering fluids, comprising: a dewatering chamber ( 12 ) through which the fluid for at least partial dewatering, especially by means of a gas that dries the fluid, can flow, an inlet ( 30 ) for fluid to be dewatered from a fluid reservoir ( 80 ) to a fluid input ( 16 ) of the dewatering chamber ( 12 ), an outlet ( 32 ) for at least partly dewatered fluid from a fluid output ( 20 ) of the dewatering chamber ( 12 ) to the fluid reservoir ( 80 ), a common line ( 34 ) assigned alternately to the inlet ( 30 ) and the outlet ( 32 ), a fluid pump ( 36 ) disposed within the common line ( 34 ), and a control valve ( 40 ) which connects the common line ( 34 ) to the fluid reservoir ( 80 ) in a first position and to the fluid output ( 20 ) of the dewatering chamber ( 12 ) in a second position, is characterized in that a flow divider ( 82 ) disposed at the opposite end of the common line ( 34 ) from the control valve ( 40 ) divides the fluid stream coming from the fluid pump ( 36 ) into a first substream (t 1 ) that leads to the fluid input ( 16 ) of the dewatering chamber ( 12 ) and a second substream (t 2 ) that leads to the fluid reservoir ( 80 ).

The invention relates to an apparatus for dewatering fluids, comprisinga dewatering chamber through which a fluid that is to be at leastpartially dewatered, in particular by means of a gas that dries thefluid, can flow, a supply line from a fluid reservoir to a fluid inletof the dewatering chamber for fluid that is to be dewatered, a dischargeline for at least partially dewatered fluid, from a fluid outlet of thedewatering chamber to the fluid reservoir, a shared line, alternatelyassigned to the inlet and the outlet, a fluid pump disposed in theshared line, and a control valve, which connects the shared line withthe fluid reservoir in a first setting, and with the fluid outlet of thedewatering chamber in a second setting.

An apparatus of this type, for dewatering fluids, is known from WO2010/042663 A2. In the known apparatus, a further control valve isdisposed at the end of the shared line opposite the control valve, whichconnects the shared line to the fluid inlet of the dewatering chamberwhen in a first setting, and to the fluid reservoir when in a secondsetting, A supply line is formed the fluid that is to be dewatered whenthe two control valves are in the respective first setting, which fluid,can flow from the fluid reservoir via the shared line to the fluid inletof the dewatering chamber. By switching the two control valves to therespective second settings, a discharge for at least partially dewateredfluid is formed, which can flow from the fluid outlet of the dewateringchamber via the shared line to the fluid reservoir. The alternatingassignment of the shared line to the supply and to the discharge enablesa construction and an operation of the apparatus with a single fluidpump disposed in the shared line. Further fluid pumps are unnecessary,such that, on the whole, a simpler structure of the apparatus isensured, having a reduced weight and structural size.

On the other hand, the invention addresses the object of furthersimplifying the construction of the apparatus for dewatering fluids, andto implement an operation of the apparatus that is less prone tomalfunctioning, and loads the individual components to a lesser extent.

This object is achieved by means of an apparatus having the features ofClaim 1 in its entirety. An apparatus according to the invention, fordewatering fluids, is distinguished in that a flow divider is disposedon the end of the shared line opposite the control valve, which dividesthe fluid flow coming from the fluid pump into a first substream leadingto the fluid inlet of the dewatering chamber, and into a secondsubstream, leading to the fluid reservoir.

The further control valve on the end of the shared line opposite thecontrol valve is eliminated and replaced by a flow divider in the designof the apparatus for dewatering fluids according to the invention. Atthis end, the shared line is connected to both the fluid inlet of thedewatering chamber as well as to the fluid reservoir, and guidesrespective substreams thereto accordingly. When the control valve is inthe first setting, fluid that is to be dewatered is removed from thefluid reservoir and conveyed to the dewatering chamber, and at the sametime, a portion of the fluid passes by the dewatering chamber, thusuntreated, and is conducted, as a second substream, back to the fluidreservoir. When the control valve is in the second setting, at leastpartially dewatered fluid is conducted, as a second substream, back tothe fluid reservoir, and at the same time, a portion of the fluid isagain conducted as a first substream to the dewatering chamber. In thismanner, the dewatering performance of the apparatus according to theinvention for dewatering fluids is increased. As a result of the designaccording to the invention, for the apparatus for dewatering fluids,there is, in particular, the advantage that the fluid pump can beoperated constantly, and as a result, is subjected to a lower loadduring operation of the apparatus.

It is particularly preferably provided that, independently of the extentof contamination of the fluid flow, and in each operating state of theapparatus, the flow divider divides the fluid flow arriving from thefluid pump into the first and second substreams at a fixed, definableratio.

The flow divider preferably divides the fluid flow arriving from thefluid pump into the first and second substreams at a fixed ratio of50:50, such that the two substreams are nearly equal in terms of volume.As a result, there is the advantage that the same quantity of fluid issupplied to the dewatering chamber and returned to the fluid reservoir,respectively.

A particularly quick filling of the dewatering chamber is obtained inthat the flow divider divides the fluid flow arriving from the fluidpump into the first and second substreams at a ratio of 70:30. In thefirst setting, also referred to as the supply setting, the control valveconducts only a portion, comprising 30% by volume, of the fluid removedfrom the fluid reservoir back to the fluid reservoir, in the secondsetting of the control valve, also referred to as the discharge setting,70% by volume of the fluid is again conducted to the dewatering chamberfor further dewatering, and only 30% by volume of the fluid is returnedto the fluid reservoir, as at least partially dewatered fluid. It isapparent that the advantages stated above can be obtained with any fixedproportional ratio between the two substreams, selected such that thefirst substream is greater than the second substream.

Furthermore, it is conceivable to select a fixed, predefined ratiobetween the two substreams at the flow divider, according to which thesecond substream is greater than the first substrearn The quantitydivider or flow divider enables, in any case, a consistent division ofthe fluid quantities, independently of the existing fluid pressure atthe inlet side.

In a preferred embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention,at least one sensor is provided, wherein the control valve connects theshared line, having the fluid pump disposed therein, to the fluidreservoir, or the fluid outlet of the dewatering chamber, depending onthe value registered at the respective sensor. When the apparatusaccording, to the invention is in operation, the control valve typicallyfirst assumes its first setting, assigned to the supply line, such thatthe dewatering chamber is filled with fluid that is to be dewatered fromthe fluid reservoir. After the dewatering chamber is filled, the controlvalve switches over to its second setting, allocated to the dischargeline, such that at least partially dewatered fluid is returned from thedewatering chamber to the fluid reservoir.

A sensor that can register the contamination and/or the water content ofthe fluid is preferably provided, which is preferably incorporated inthe shared line. A sensor of this type enables the determination of thewater content in the fluid supplied from the fluid reservoir, which isto be dewatered, and the at least partially dewatered fluid arrivingfrom the dewatering chamber. The switching of the apparatus according tothe invention can be selected such that the control valve switches fromthe second setting, or the discharge line setting, respectively, back tothe first setting, or the supply line setting, respectively, when alower threshold value for the water content has been reached.

Particularly preferably, at least one, preferably two filling levelsensors are provided, fir registering the fluid presently in thedewatering chamber. In this manner, the filling level of the dewateringchamber can be monitored, and the dewatering chamber can be filled to amaximum filling level when the control valve is in the first setting, orsupply line setting, and when the control valve is in the secondsetting, or discharge line setting, the dewatering chamber can beemptied, to a minimal filling level.

The dewatering of the fluid in the dewatering chamber occurs, forpractical purposes, by means of a gas that dries the fluid, flowingthrough the dewatering chamber in the opposite direction of the fluid.Advantageously, a gas supply for supplying, dry gas to the dewateringchamber, and a gas discharge for removing wet gas from the dewateringchamber are provided.

It is furthermore advantageous that a vacuum pump be disposed in the gassupply and/or in the gas discharge, and that the dewatering chamber bedesigned as a vacuum tower. A particularly effective dewatering of thefluid during the flow through the dewatering chamber is obtained in thispreferred embodiment of the invention.

Further advantages and features of the invention can be derived from theFigures and the following description of the drawings. According to theinvention, the features specified above and described below can beimplemented, in each case, in any combination thereof. The featuresshown in the Figures are purely schematic, and should not be regarded asbeing drawn to scale. Therein:

FIG. 1 shows a circuit diagram for an apparatus known from the prior artfor dewatering fluids;

FIG. 2 shows a circuit diagram for an apparatus according to theinvention, for dewatering fluids;

FIG. 3 shows a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the apparatusaccording to the invention, for dewatering fluids; and

FIG. 4 shows a top view of the exemplary apparatus from FIG. 3.

FIG. 1 shows the circuit diagram for an apparatus 10 for dewateringfluids, known from WO 2010/042663 A2. Both fluid to be dewatered as wellas fluid drying gas flow through a dewatering chamber 12 of theapparatus 10. The fluid to be dewatered is supplied to the dewateringchamber 12 above a filler material 14, and dry gas is supplied, beneaththe filler material 14. The filler material 14 nearly entirely fills themain part of the dewatering chamber 12 between a fluid distributor 18for the fluid that is to be dewatered supplied thereto, and a gasdistributor 22 for the dry gas supplied thereto, and is selected inorder to promote the exchange of water between the fluid that containswater and the dry gas. The fluid supplied to the fluid distributor 18flows through the dewatering chamber 12 and the filler material 14,accordingly, from top to bottom, due to gravity, The gas supplied at theWas distributor 22 flows through the dewatering chamber 12 and thefiller material 14, accordingly, from bottom to top, due to specificgravity, thus in the opposite direction of the fluid.

Fluid to be dewatered is conducted from a fluid reservoir, not shown inFIG. 1, via a supply line 30, to a fluid inlet 16 of the dewateringchamber 12, and from there to a fluid distributor 18. The fluiddistributor 18 is designed in the manner of a shower head, such that thefluid to be dewatered is supplied evenly distributed over thecross-sectional surface area of the dewatering chamber 12. In acorresponding manner, the gas distributor 22 is designed in the mannerof a shower head, such that dry gas, also referred to as drying gas, islikewise supplied evenly distributed over the cross-sectional surfacearea of the dewatering chamber 12. A fluid outlet 20 is disposed on thelower end of the dewatering chamber 12, opposite the fluid inlet 16disposed on the upper end of the dewatering chamber 12. At leastpartially dewatered fluid is conducted out of the dewatering chamber 12via the fluid outlet 20, and returned to the fluid reservoir via adischarge line 32 connected to the fluid outlet 20. As a matter ofcourse, the at least partially dewatered fluid can be conducted toanother fluid reservoir. A gas supply line 24 for the dry gas runs alongthe side of the dewatering chamber 12 and further to the gas distributor22. A gas discharge 26 for wet gas is disposed on the upper end of thedewatering chamber 12, wherein the wet gas, on the way from the fillermaterial 14 to the gas discharge 26, passes through a foam component 28,disposed in the upper part of the dewatering chamber 12 above the fluiddistributor 18, which serves to remove moisture.

A shared line 34, in which as fluid pump 36 and a fluid filter 38 a aredisposed, is assigned, in an alternating manner, to the supply line 30for fluid that is to be dewatered, and the discharge line 32 for atleast partially dewatered fluid. A check valve 44 a is connected inparallel to the fluid pump 36. The shared line 34 is connected, in analternating manner, into the supply line 30 or the discharge line 32 viaa first control valve 40, which is disposed upstream of the fluid pump36, i.e. in front thereof with respect to the direction in which thefluid flows, and into a second control valve 42, which is disposeddownstream of the fluid pump 36, i.e. after the fluid pump with respectto the direction in which the fluid flows. In the shown, respectivefirst setting, the first control valve 40 connects the fluid reservoirwith the shared line 34 and the second control valve 42 connects theshared hoe 34 with the fluid inlet 16 of the dewatering chamber 12.Thus, the shared line 34 is part of the supply line 30 when the controlvalves 40, 42 are in the respective first setting, also referred to asthe supply setting. When in the respective second settings, not shown,the first control valve 40 connects the fluid outlet 20 of thedewatering chamber 12 to the shared line 34, and the second controlvalve 42 connects the shared line 34 to the fluid reservoir. Thus, theshared line 34 is a part of the discharge line 32 when the controlvalves 40, 42 are in the respective second setting, also referred to asthe discharge setting, The fluid pump 36 serves both to convey fluidthat is to be dewatered into the supply line 30 as well as to convey atleast partially dewatered fluid into the discharge line 32. The controlvalves 40, 42 are both designed as 3/2-way control valves that can beactuated electrically.

A check valve 44 b is disposed at the end of the supply line 30 assignedto the fluid reservoir. A sensor 46, for determining the contaminationand/or water content of the fluid supplied thereto that is to bedewatered, and a fluid filter 38 b are disposed downstream of the checkvalve 44 b. A display 48 for visual control of the at least partiallydewatered fluid and/or for monitoring the functioning of the apparatus10 can be disposed in the discharge line 32 between the dewateringchamber 12 and the shared line 34. The water content of the at leastpartially dewatered fluid can be registered at a test point 50 fortesting purposes, by means, for example, of a sensor, not shown, whichcan be disposed between the shared line 34 and the fluid reservoir inthe discharge line 32. A check valve 44 c is disposed at the end of thedischarge line 32 assigned to the fluid reservoir.

In order to monitor the filling and the emptying of the dewateringchamber 12, idling level sensors 52 a, 52 b are disposed in the lowerpart of the dewatering chamber 12, below the gas distributor 22. Anupper filling level sensor 52 a is allocated to a maximum filling level,and emits a signal indicating that the dewatering chamber 12 is not tobe filled further and that the first control valve 40 is to be switchedfrom the first setting, or the supply setting, to the second setting, orthe discharge setting. As soon as the first control valve 40 is in thesecond setting, and the second control valve 42 is still in the firstsetting, the fluid can be conducted multiple times through thedewatering chamber 12 in a circulating manner, and dewatered therein.When the second control valve 42 is switched to the second setting, thedischarge line 32 to the fluid reservoir is opened, and at leastpartially dewatered fluid is conducted out of the dewatering chamber 12.A lower filling level sensor 52 b allocated to the minimum filling levelemits a signal indicating that the no further fluid is to be removedfrom the dewatering chamber 12 and that at least the second controlvalve 42 is to be switched hack to the first setting.

The fluid that is at least partially dewatered when flowing through thefiller material 14 through contact with gas flowing in the oppositedirection, exits the filler material 14 at the underside thereof, flowspast the gas distributor 22, and arrives at a deflecting component 54designed as a deflecting plate, from which is continues to flow into thelower part of the dewatering chamber 12. From there it can be dischargedvia the fluid outlet 20 assigned to the discharge line 32, oralternatively, for maintenance purposes or during operationalmalfunctions for example, via a fluid discharge 56. The fluid ends up,via the fluid discharge 56, in a collecting pan 58, in which a furtherfilling level sensor 52 c is disposed.

The gas serving as the drying medium is supplied to the gas supply 24via a gas compressor 60, from the exterior, i.e. from the environment,wherein the gas pressure of the supplied gas is monitored by means of apressure gauge 62. Gas can be conducted to the gas supply 24 via a gasreturn 66 instead of the gas compressor 60 by means of a further controlvalve 64. A further cheek valve 68 a, 68 c, 68 d is disposed, in eachcase, in the respective supply line to the gas supply 24 and in the gasreturn 66. A further check valve 68 b and an aperture 78 are disposed inthe gas discharge 26, to which a gas filter 70 is attached, by means ofwhich wet gas can be discharged into the environment. A first line 74and a second line 76 branch off from the gas discharge to a vacuum unit72′, which is designed as a Venturi vacuum unit. The gas return 66 leadsfrom the vacuum unit 72′ to a further control valve 64, by means ofwhich the as return 66 is connected to the gas supply 24 when it is inits second setting. When the further control valve 64 is in this secondsetting, gas is conducted multiple times through the dewatering chamber12 in a circulating manner.

FIG. 2 shows a circuit diagram for an apparatus 10 for dewatering fluidsaccording to the invention. The construction of the apparatus 10corresponds for the most part to the apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1,wherein substantial differences are depicted in FIG. 2, and describedbelow. A substantial component of the apparatus 10 according to theinvention is a flow divider 82, which is disposed at the end of theshared line 34 opposite the control valve 40, and divides the fluid,flow arriving from the fluid pump 34 into a first substream t1 leadingto the dewatering chamber 12 and a second substream t2 leading to thefluid reservoir 80. The division ratio between the first substream t1and the second substream t2 is a fixed value, wherein the firstsubstream t1 is preferably greater than the second substream t2 in orderto ensure that the tower receives a steady loading, and to avoid theoccurrence of any dead volume.

The dewatering chamber 12, having the filler material 14 disposedtherein, is designed as a vacuum tower, having the gas supply 24 at theunderside, and the gas discharge 26 at the upper surface. A vacuum pump72 is disposed in the gas discharge 26. An adjustable aperture 78 isdisposed in the gas supply 24 for adjusting the vacuum. Furthermore, agas filter 70 b, in particular an air filter, is disposed in the gassupply 24, for cleaning the gas supplied to the dewatering chamber 12.

The fluid pump 36, having the check valve 44 a assigned and connected inparallel thereto, is disposed in the shared line 34, which isalternately connected to the supply line 30 from the fluid reservoir 80to the dewatering chamber 12 for fluid that is to be dewatered, and tothe discharge line 32 from the dewatering chamber 12 to the fluidreservoir 80 for at least partially dewatered fluid. The fluid filter 38a, disposed downstream of the fluid pump 36, is disposed in the part ofthe discharge line 32 leading from the shared line 34 to the fluidreservoir 80, and is additionally secured by means of a check valve 44 dconnected in parallel thereto. The sensor 46 for registeringcontamination and/or the water content or the fluid conducted in theshared line 34 is disposed in a part of a third line 84 leading to thedischarge line 32, leading from the shared line 34 to the fluidreservoir 80 and connected in series with a valve 90.

A temperature control unit 86, in particular a heating element, can bedisposed in the part of the supply line 30 leading from the shared line34 to the dewatering chamber 12, in order to bring the fluid supplied tothe dewatering chamber 12 to an appropriate temperature, in particularto heat said fluid. For this, the values recorded by a further sensor 92of the ambient temperature may be taken into account. Furthermore, afloating switch 88 assigned to the collecting pan 58, as well as a thirdtilling level sensor 52 d assigned to an overflow in the dewateringchamber 12, or vacuum tower, respectively, are shown in FIG. 2. Thefilling level sensors 52 a, 52 b, 52 d assigned to the dewateringchamber 12 are part of a further floating switch, which actuate thehydraulic pump 36 as well as the valve 40, depending on the fillinglevel in the tower, in order to ensure the fluid supply from the tank80.

FIG. 3 shows a side view and, corresponding to FIG. 4, a top view of anexemplary structural assembly of the apparatus 10, having a cylindricalhousing 94 defining the dewatering chamber 12. The fluid pump 36, thegas compressor 60 and the vacuum pump 72 are disposed outside the outersheath of the housing 94, and at a spacing thereto. Apart from this, thereference symbols in FIGS. 3 and 4 refer to the explanations above. Theapparatus 10 is designed on the whole as a marketable unit, and designedin accordance with the respective requirements. The apparatus can bestationary, but preferably is designed such that it can be transportedby means of a dolly, preferably by hand, such that it can be used atvarious locations without difficulty.

1. An apparatus (10) for dewatering fluids, comprising: a dewateringchamber (12) through which fluid can flow for at least partialdewatering, in particular by means of gas that dries the fluid, a supplyline (30) for fluid from a fluid reservoir (80) that is to be dewateredto a fluid inlet (16) of the dewatering chamber (12), a discharge line(32) for at least partially dewatered fluid from a fluid outlet (20) ofthe dewatering chamber (12) to the fluid reservoir (80), a shared line(34) that is alternately assigned to the supply line (30) and thedischarge line (32), a fluid pump (36) disposed in the shared line (34),and a control valve (40), which connects the shared line (34) to thefluid reservoir (80) when in a first setting, and to the fluid outlet(20) of the dewatering chamber (12) when in a second setting,characterized in that a flow divider (82) is disposed at the end of theshared line (34) opposite the control valve (40), which divides thefluid flow arriving from the fluid pump (36) into a first substream (t1)leading to the fluid inlet (16) of the dewatering chamber (12), and asecond substream (t2) leading to the fluid reservoir (80).
 2. Theapparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, independently ofthe degree of contamination of the fluid flow, and in every activeoperating state of the apparatus, the flow divider (82) divides thefluid flow arriving from the fluid pump (36) into the first substream(t1) and second substream (t2) at a fixed, definable ratio.
 3. Theapparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the flow divider(82) divides the fluid flow arriving from the fluid pump (36) into thefirst substream (t1) and second substream (t2) at a ratio of 50:50. 4.The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the flowdivider (82) divides the fluid flow arriving from the fluid pump (36)into the first substream (t1) and second substream (t2) at a ratio of70:30.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that atleast one sensor (46, 52 a, 52 b) is provided, and in that the controlvalve (40) connects the shared line (34) to the fluid pump (36) disposedtherein, the fluid reservoir (80), or the fluid outlet (20) of thedewatering chamber (12), depending on the value recorded at therespective sensor (46, 52 a, 52 b).
 6. The apparatus according to claim1, characterized in that a sensor (46) that registers the contaminationand/or water content of the fluid is provided, which is preferablyincorporated in the shared line (34).
 7. The apparatus according toclaim 1, characterized in that at least one, preferably two, fillinglevel sensors (52 a, 52 b) are provided for registering the fluidpresent in the dewatering chamber (12).
 8. The apparatus according toclaim 1, characterized in that a gas supply (24) is provided forsupplying dry gas to the dewatering chamber (12) and a gas discharge(36) is provided for removing wet gas from the dewatering chamber (12).9. The apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that a vacuumpump (72) is disposed in the gas supply (24) and/or in the gas discharge(26), and in that the dewatering chamber (12) is designed as a vacuumtower.